Minister Babalanda Urges Basoga In Diaspora to Turn Global Experience into Development Opportunities for Uganda

DUBAI, UNITED ARAB EMIRATE — The Minister for the Presidency, Hon. Babirye Milly Babalanda, has urged the Basoga diaspora to harness their skills, professional experience, networks and resources acquired abroad to support development in Busoga and Uganda, while maintaining strong links with their cultural identity and homeland.

Minister Babalanda made the call Yesterday, 26 September 2026 while addressing members of the Basoga community in the United Arab Emirates during engagements held in Dubai as part of activities marking the 12th Coronation Anniversary of His Majesty William Wilberforce Gabula Nadiope IV, the Kyabazinga of Busoga.

The celebration, held at the Mövenpick Jumeirah Beach Hotel, Dubai, brought together His Majesty the Kyabazinga, Government of Uganda dignitaries, Basoga living in the United Arab Emirates and the wider Gulf region, as well as members of the broader Basoga diaspora community.

The engagement provided a platform to celebrate the Kyabazinga’s 12th Coronation Anniversary while strengthening connections between the Kingdom of Busoga, its people in the diaspora and their communities back home.

In her address, Minister Babalanda conveyed warm greetings from H.E. President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni, the First Lady and Minister of Education and Sports, Maama Janet Kataaha Museveni, the Secretary to the Office of the President, Hajji Yunus Kakande, and the entire staff of the Office of the President.

She emphasised the importance of maintaining strong cultural ties among Basoga living abroad, urging them to preserve their language, history, traditions and values and to ensure that geographical distance does not weaken their connection to Busoga and Uganda.

“Life abroad should provide an opportunity to acquire knowledge, skills and experience that can be used to create opportunities and contribute to development back home,” the Minister emphasised in her message to the diaspora.

Minister Babalanda called for greater unity among Basoga from all parts of the Kingdom, encouraging members of the diaspora to support one another and build networks capable of facilitating investment, knowledge exchange, skills development and other initiatives beneficial to communities in Busoga and Uganda.

She also encouraged Ugandans living and working in the Gulf region to use their time abroad productively by acquiring professional skills, expanding their knowledge and building valuable networks, while saving and investing responsibly.

The Minister identified agriculture, tourism, manufacturing, technology and real estate among the productive sectors in which members of the diaspora could consider investing their resources and expertise.

She noted that the knowledge, professional experience, capital and international networks acquired abroad can contribute to household incomes, community development and the wider national economy when channelled into productive activities.

Minister Babalanda further encouraged members of the diaspora to explore opportunities for partnerships, investment and knowledge transfer that can benefit communities at home, either through direct investment or through collaborations with individuals, institutions and businesses in Uganda.She reminded the Basoga diaspora that they also have an important role to play as ambassadors of Uganda and Busoga, urging them to uphold discipline, integrity, hard work, respect and other values that positively represent their communities and country.

The Minister cautioned that exposure to life abroad should not result in the erosion of cultural identity or a weakening of responsibility towards families and communities. Instead, she encouraged the diaspora to use their international exposure to broaden their perspectives while maintaining strong connections with their roots.

She also encouraged Basoga living abroad to strengthen their community networks and use them to identify opportunities for skills development, investment, mentorship and knowledge sharing that can support development initiatives in Busoga and other parts of Uganda.

Minister Babalanda reaffirmed the Government’s commitment to working with cultural institutions, communities and Ugandans in the diaspora to promote unity, preserve Uganda’s cultural heritage and support socio-economic transformation.

She encouraged the Basoga diaspora to remain connected to their homeland and to play an active role in development by leveraging their skills, experience, networks and resources to create opportunities and support communities in Uganda.

The Dubai engagement therefore provided a platform not only to commemorate the Kyabazinga’s 12th Coronation Anniversary, but also to highlight the potential of the Basoga diaspora as a link between Uganda and the wider global community through cultural preservation, skills exchange, investment and development partnerships.